Viola Davis is mesmerising as General Nanisca who commands the all-female group of warriors, known as the Agojie, Davis plays the leader with a sense of great strength and resolve. This is tempered by an underlining sense of sadness. As the story progresses we discover the cause of that sorrow.

When Nawi (Thuso Mbedu) a headstrong girl that is given up after her father cannot control her errant ways becomes part of the warrior tribe, she brings the usually stoic Nanisca’s emotions to the forefront. The progression of these feelings are played out in a wonderfully nuanced way.

This is powerful film making that relies on solid story telling and not just the intensity of battle, although there are a number of those moments. It’s anchored around Davis’ Oscar worthy performance and that alone is worth the price of admission. This work is sure to be in many best of the year lists and should not be missed.

Rob Hudson
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The Woman King is the remarkable story of the Agojie, the all-female unit of warriors who protected the African Kingdom of Dahomey in the 1800s with skills and a fierceness unlike anything the world has ever seen.

Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar®-winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.

Some things are worth fighting for…

Starring Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and John Boyega, The Woman King will be released in Aussie cinemas October 27!
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Competition will be drawn October 26, winners will be notified by mail.

Inspired by true events, The Woman King follows the emotionally epic journey of General Nanisca (Oscar®-winner Viola Davis) as she trains the next generation of recruits and readies them for battle against an enemy determined to destroy their way of life.

Some things are worth fighting for…

Starring Viola Davis, Thuso Mbedu, Lashana Lynch, Sheila Atim, Hero Fiennes-Tiffin and John Boyega, The Woman King will be released in Australian cinemas October 13!
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The film stars Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Adam Driver, Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Anthony Daniels, Naomi Ackie, Domhnall Gleeson, Richard E. Grant, Lupita Nyong’o, Keri Russell, Joonas Suotamo, Kelly Marie Tran, and Billy Dee Williams.

Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker is directed by J.J. Abrams and produced by Kathleen Kennedy, Abrams and Michelle Rejwan. Callum Greene, Tommy Gormley and Jason McGatlin serve as executive producers. Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker was written by J.J. Abrams & Chris Terrio.
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While it’s good to see John Boyega operate outside the constraints of the Star Wars world, he is given little to do besides being heroic. His charisma still breaks through but he is held back by a script that is very one dimensional. With its dedicated agenda of maximum action and sceptical, it will however play well to the right target market.

The director of the moment Guillermo del Toro was behind the first of the franchise and shares producer credits on this edition but the film shows little of his imagination. It’s a very straight forward action yarn and could have used more concept details to flush out the experience.

As a treat for Australian members of the audience, the film was shoot is various locations around the country and it is always fun to try to identify places that you have actually visited.

Rob Hudson
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Vindicated by the victory at the Breach, the Jaeger program has evolved into the most powerful global defense force in human history. The PPDC now calls upon the best and brightest to rise up and become the next generation of heroes when the Kaiju threat returns.

Thrust into this is ex-Jaeger pilot Jake Pentecost, son of the late Stacker Pentecost, who is given a chance by his adopted sister, Mako Mori, to unite with the world and fellow Jaeger pilots to prevent humanity’s extinction.

PACIFIC RIM UPRISING, starring John Boyega and Scott Eastwood is in Cinemas March 22.
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Set against the backdrop of the devastating Detroit riots that took place over five days in the Summer of 1967, after police raided an unlicensed bar in the city’s Near West Side. The confrontation between the police and citizens quickly turned violent, to the point where the Governor was forced to call in the National Guard.

When the riots were all over, 43 people were dead, hundreds were injured, thousands were arrested, and many of the city’s buildings had been destroyed. As a result, the riots are widely known as one of the largest citizen uprisings in the United States’ history.

Starring; John Boyega (Star Wars: The Force Awakens), John Krasinski (TV’s The Office), Will Poulter (The Revenant), and Anthony Mackie (Captain America: Civil War) – Detroit is IN CINEMAS NOVEMBER 09
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Competition will be drawn 07 November 2017, winners will be notified by mail.

The franchise is almost universally regarded as having lost it’s way with Lucas’ prequels (um, Episodes I, II and III) but the truth is the series began running off the rails from the moment Lucas re-branded the first instalment of Star Wars Episode IV. This set in motion two decades of Lucas dicking with his baby, subjecting his movies to so much plastic surgery as to transform them into some kind of CGI-laden Frankenstein’s monster. From simple beginnings Lucas had begun complicating Star Wars to its detriment.

A look at Internet blogger and Star Wars fan, Harmy’s, meticulously (but unofficial) reconstructions of the ‘despecialised’ editions of Star Wars reveals the extent to which Lucas damaged his own property. It also reveals the extent to which fans have been pining for Star Wars to return to the form that they know and love.

With Disney acquiring the rights to Star Wars, the chance was there for the franchise to be put right and with director J. J. Abrams on board, who had already steered the ailing Star Trek franchise back on course, the formula seemed right.

And it is right. It turns out that Abrams and Disney were just what Star Wars needed. What Disney and Abrams have delivered is a fun, fast paced film that heavily references… or, if you must, downright plagiarises sequences from the first three films. Rehash or homage? Well that depends on whether you enjoy the new film as whole. I liked it a lot so I’m calling it a homage. It’s all part and parcel of pulling the franchise back onto familiar rails and this feels like pulling up a favourite warm, comfy blanket.

The film looks the goods too. Unlike The Phantom Menace and its fellow impostors, The Force Awakens feels like a Star Wars movie from the lighting, to the sets, to the costuming, to the hokey scene wipes and gasp, the real locations! Yes, it’s amazing what can be done with actual locations rather than all that CG tosh. Disney continues to revel in its modern girl-power shtick. The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, Frozen and now Rey – not the kind of gal who’ll tolerate a fella taking her by the hand and leading her out of danger – she’s in control of her own destiny. It’s an empowering message and Disney plays it with a steady hand.

The new young cast carry the film well but, let’s face it, Harrison Ford carried Star Wars. I beg your pardon, Episode IV…..and he continues to carry it now. But Daisy Ridley (Rey), John Boyega (Finn), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren) and Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron) are competent and will no doubt grow into their roles as Ford departs the series.

The Force Awakens is a promising start to a new era. The force is strong with this one. (Sorry).

Stuart Jamieson
www.starwars.com/the-force-awakens